Never again after the slicks

1338 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Dj Dirk, Nov 1, 2004

fradefa48

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2004

Few weeks ago I had the opportunity to drive at Vallelunga (Rome) in between the races of 360 Challange and NGT. The last used slicks unfortunately!!!

After few laps, as my tyres became hot, they absorbed a huge quantity of rubber pieces, with really unpleasent consequences:

- the vibrations increased and I didn't feel safe in the fast corners :evil:
- the sudden release of a big rubber pieces destroyed the carter just in front of the wheel (posterior left). 500 $

- today, after more than 600 km, the tyres are still completely coated of slicks, quite impossible to clean with normal devices (I believe that the only possibility is to warm the tyres with steam and remove the rubber with a lot of patience) :evil: :evil:

Anyway, I had already taken the decision to install new tyres, so I will not try myself in that job. But ... lesson learned :roll: :roll:

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Dj Dirk

· #2 · Oct 30, 2004

well, try and find a brihgt side
those first few laps, did you have fun?

whas that a local event or what?

actually, you can also try and get the tyres cleaned with using a hairdryer & a such a thing that you use to plaster the walls with, i seriously can't think of an english name for it at the momen.
i've seen technicians use that technique to clean slick tyres after they went off the track in the gravel. seems like one of the best way's to clean them, altough it might take a while, so i think it's also possible on road tyres but a bit more difficult because of the grooves

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Stradale

· #3 · Oct 31, 2004

Drive a few laps on a clean track then dive into the pits. The "marbles" will be scrubbeb off the tyres. The put on your normal road tyres and oof you gu. Save the slicks for the next track day. Slicks can't be used for too many times though because after a few "heat cycles" the compound just become hard and quite useless.

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fradefa48

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 31, 2004

Dj Dirk said:
well, try and find a brihgt side
those first few laps, did you have fun?

Yes, it's always exciting for me to have the possibility to drive on a circuit, but there are better opportunities.

I believe that an hairdryer is a good solution as well, but cleaning a slick is eased by the smooth surface and by the opportunity to use mechanical devices. On road tyres you have to clean the interstices one by one :x
But other consequences are even worse: the case that was broken by a rubber debris protects the water cooler. I don't want to imagine what can happen if a rubber debris enter the cooling system at that speed and temperature!

The events were part of some National Championships: Ferrari Challenge Pirelli (360 Challenge); GT (360, Maserati, 550, Porsche and Viper) and N-GT (360 GTC). Free laps for private Ferrari in between the races.

There was also (in exibition) the new Saleen S7 both in the road model (575 bhp) and in the sport one (740 bhp) that will substitute some Vipers in the GT competitions next year. It's really impressive.

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Dj Dirk

· #5 · Oct 31, 2004

S7's are pretty cool
i've only seen roadversion so far, and that was in the US
but the racing versions are already driving in the FIA-GT, 24 Hours of Le Mans & Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES).

but about the tyres, where these already older and in need of replacement or still pretty new?
if still new enough, then you could try cleaning them, winter is coming up anyway, so drivingtime will be limited anyhow.
if you can save them then it still beats buying new ones

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fradefa48

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 31, 2004

Dj Dirk said:
.

but about the tyres, where these already older and in need of replacement or still pretty new?
if still new enough, then you could try cleaning them, winter is coming up anyway, so drivingtime will be limited anyhow.

No, they aren't new: I had already decided to change them after Vallelunga.

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4kids3fish

· #7 · Oct 31, 2004

Dj Dirk said:
actually, you can also try and get the tyres cleaned with using a hairdryer & a such a thing that you use to plaster the walls with, i seriously can't think of an english name for it at the momen.

This sounds like a heatgun, used to burn paint off walls, etc. You can usually hire them from equipment-hire shops for very little money. Good luck!

Another suggestion - tried some burnouts?! (& rotate tyres & repeat)

ha:

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Dj Dirk

· #8 · Oct 31, 2004

well, you could use a heatgun to replace the hairdryer
but that other thingy, still can't think of a name for it

and well, those burnouts might be difficult when you try to place the reartyres up front :wink:

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fradefa48

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 1, 2004

Dj Dirk said:
and well, those burnouts might be difficult when you try to place the reartyres up front :wink:

Right: anyway, after a burnout I found less rubber on the external surface, but more into the channels, where it's more difficult to remove. :x

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Dj Dirk

· #10 · Nov 1, 2004

LOL, so you already tried that one :green:

well, heat it up and use a flat screwdriver to get in those channels?

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